Outrigger canoe club comes to Whitefish

By DAVID ERICKSON

Whitefish Pilot

A new club in town is bringing a little Hawaiian tradition to the Rocky Mountain waters. The new Whitefish branch of the Bigfork Outrigger Canoe Club is hitting the water here this summer, and they are looking for new members.

Jen Schwartz, a founding member, says she started the club after spending several years in Hawaii.

"It's the state sport, so it's a big part of daily life there," she said.

Schwartz started the non-profit club with part-time Bigfork resident Todd Yamashita, whom she met in Hawaii. The club bought its first boat in 2003 for $2,750, with the second boat currently being financed. The club pays for the boats with corporate sponsorships, charter-membership fees and fundraisers.

The club can be seen paddling on the Whitefish River on Tuesday and Thursday evenings around 6:30 p.m. with a Saturday morning session at 10:30 a.m.

The boat inevitably draws stares from the shore as it slices through the water, and Schwartz will take a break from bellowing directions to her crew to invite onlookers to try a paddle.

"Just show up at Kay Beller Park on Tuesday at 6:30," she shouts to a crowd at City Beach. "Anyone can try it."

"The club is completely open to everybody," Schwartz says. "I started this club because I like team sports. I was looking for a healthy social activity, an outlet where you can exercise with friends. It's not like running, or kayaking or other individual-type sports."

The fate of the annual Flathead Monster race and fundraiser is up in the air this year, Schwartz said, because she is getting married this summer and will be in Fiji, although another member may still decide to organize it.

The club is participating in the Montana Cup race June 30 in Great Falls.

For more information, visit online at www.bigforkoutrigger.com or call Jen Schwartz at 249-9290.